People dealing with medical malpractice predicaments are often confused. A couple in Tennessee gives birth to a child, with all of the hopes and dreams that are attached to that experience. And, through the fault of a medical team, the baby is born with brain injury that results in cerebral palsy. In a situation of this sort, the family deserves the compensation that will allow them to care for their child –and to do so without the financial hardships that so many would face under these circumstances. And the child deserves compensation for the medical malpractice that has resulted in his situation.
Our job, at Gershon, Willoughby, Getz & Smith, LLC as doctors and lawyers trained to deal with medical malpractice in Tennessee, is to assist families in these situations. We assist families who have experienced a devastating medical malpractice situation in receiving the financial recoveries that they are entitled to – and that they need for their future. Our law firm determines if the cerebral palsy is due to a doctor or nurse’s mistake and we can work to create accountability for the terrible, preventable error that has occurred.
Here, we offer a wealth of resources to assist families in Tennessee to deal with their situation when their child is born with or diagnosed with cerebral palsy or another disability as a result of medical malpractice
Social Service Programs in Tennessee
United Cerebral Palsy of Tennessee
UCP serves Tennessee with programs targeted at our mission to advance the independence and full citizenship of people with disabilities. UCP focuses on services to individuals of all ages who have a variety of physical disabilities that primarily affect mobility.
United Cerebral Palsy of Middle Tennessee
1200 9th Avenue North, Suite 110
Nashville, TN 37208
Telephone 615-242-4091
Fax 615-242-3582
http://www.ucpnashville.org/
United Cerebral Palsy Association of the Mid-South
Diana Reid, Executive Director
4189 Leroy Avenue
Memphis, TN 38108
(901) 761-4277
Web: www.ucpmemphis.org
The Cerebral Palsy Center of Tennessee
The Cerebral Palsy Center is committed to empowering adults with developmental disabilities to determine and realize their individual growth and personal goals. Their services are designed to assist individuals with cerebral palsy and other developmental disabilities to live meaningful lives as fully participating members of the community. At the Cerebral Palsy Center, “Building Lives, Building Futures” is more than just a slogan. It reflects their belief that every person is a unique human being whose life has immeasurable value and deserves the opportunity to participate in society, enabling them to feel empowered and fulfilled.
The Cerebral Palsy Center of Tennessee
Bob Sexton—Executive Director
241 E. Woodland Avenue
Knoxville, Tennessee 37917
Phone: (865) 523-0491
Fax: (865) 523-0492
bsexton@cpcenter.org
http://www.cpcenter.org/index.html
Parent to Parent of Tennessee
Parent to Parent Tennessee is a support network that enables parents who are raising children with special needs like cerebral palsy to connect with other parents. As their website explains, it allows parents to “connect with another parent who has already learned the language and found the resources.” Support parents are trained to lend support to those in need, and there are training dates throughout the year held throughout Tennessee.
Parents Encouraging Parents (PEP) Program
Suzanne Rothacker, Coordinator
Cordell Hull Building, 5th Floor
426 5th Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37247-4750
(615) 741-0353
E-mail: srothacker@mail.state.tn.us
Other Resources for Assistance with Cerebral Palsy
State Department of Education: Special Education
Joseph Fisher, Executive Director
Division of Special Education
Department of Education
Andrew Johnson Tower, 5th Floor
710 James Robertson Pkwy.
Nashville, TN 37243-0380
(615) 741-2851
E-mail: jfisher@mail.state.tn.us
Web: www.state.tn.us/education/msped.htm
State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency
Carl Brown, Assistant Commissioner
Division of Rehabilitation Services
Department of Human Svcs.
400 Deaderick Street, l5th Floor
Nashville, TN 37248-0060
(615) 313-4714
E-mail: tnds@gte.net
Office Of State Coordinator Of Vocational Education For Students With Disabilities
Sam McClanahan, Consultant
Division of Vocational Education
Andrew Johnson Tower, 4th Floor
710 James Roberston Pkwy.
Nashville, TN 37243-0383
(615) 532-2834
State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council
Wanda Willis, Executive Director
TN Developmental Disabilities Council
Cordell Hull Building, 5th Floor
425 5th Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37243-0675
(615) 532-6615
E-mail: tnddc@mail.state.tn.us
Protection And Advocacy Agency
Shirley Shea, Executive Director
TN Protection and Advocacy, Inc.
P.O. Box 121257
Nashville, TN 37212
(615) 298-1080; (800) 342-1660 (Toll-free in TN only)
(615) 298-2471 (TTY)
Programs For Children With Special Health Care Needs
Children’s Special Services
Jacque Cundall, Director
Department of Health
Cordell Hull Building, 5th Floor
425 5th Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37247-4701
(615) 741-0310
E-mail: jcundall@mail.state.tn.us
Web: www.state.tn.us/health
State Education Agency Rural Representative
Ann Hampton, CSPD
Department of Education, Division of Special Education
Andrew Johnson Tower, 5th Floor
710 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243-0380
(615) 741-2851
E-mail: ahampton@state.tn.us
Web: www.state.tn.us/education/
Boling Center for Developmental Disabilities
Frederick B. Palmer, Director
The University of Tennessee, Memphis
711 Jefferson Avenue
Memphis, TN 38105
(901) 448-6512
Web: www.utmem.edu/bcdd/boling.html
Tennessee Technology Access Project
Jacque Cundall, Project Director
425 5th Avenue North
Cordell Hull Building, 5th Floor
Nashville, TN 37247-4751
(615) 741-0331; (615) 741-4566 (TTY)
(800) 732-5059 (Toll-free in TN only)
E-mail: jcundall@mail.state.tn.us
Web: www.state.tn.us/mental/ttap.html
Support and Training for Exceptional Parents, Inc. (STEP)
Nancy Diehl, Executive Director
424 East Bernard Avenue, Suite 3
Greeneville, TN 37745
(423) 639-0125; (800) 280-7837 (Toll-free in TN only)
(423) 639-2464 (TTY)
E-mail: tnstep@AOL.com
Web: www.tnstep.org